Although there has been some progress on the protection of LGBTQ rights in Africa, many continue to suffer abuses. In some African countries, gay people can be punished by death or lengthy prison terms.

DW News

Are African LGBTQ rights improving? 18 hours ago18 hours ago

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has defended signing one of the world's harshest anti-LGBTQ laws

Reuters

Museveni says Uganda won't be swayed after anti-LGBTQ law triggers aid cut threats

As the calendar turns to June, Pride Month 2023 begins, a time of celebration, reflection, and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. This year, the corporate world finds itself at a crossroads, with companies like Nordea and Target, among many others, navigating the complex terrain of LGBTQ+ rights and corporate social responsibility.

Forbes

Pride And Prejudice: The Corporate Struggle For LGBTQ+ Rights

Walmart on Wednesday said it has not made any changes to its LGBTQ-related merchandise tied to Pride Month, or to security measures in place at its stores, a week after rival Target (TGT.N) pulled some LGBTQ-themed products following customer backlash.

Walmart has not made changes to LGBTQ-themed merchandise

Uganda on Tuesday condemned the Western response to the East African country's new anti-LGBTQ law, considered one of the harshest in the world, and said sanctions threats from donors amounted to "blackmail".


Uganda accuses West of blackmail in its response to anti-LGBTQ law

Uganda has enacted one of the world's toughest anti-LGBTQ laws in a continent where only 22 of 54 nations allow homosexuality.

Uganda's anti-gay law: how restricted are LGBTQ rights in Africa?

Repressive social backlash and extreme anti-LGBTQ sentiment are complicating Pride celebrations

How anti-LGBTQ sentiment is affecting Pride

The bill’s preamble prohibited “classroom discussions” of sexual orientation and gender identity, while the legislation itself barred “classroom instruction.”

The Hill

Florida’s anti-LGBT laws are unwarranted and un-American

Anastasia Domini and wife Anna are part of an increasing number of Russians from the LGBTQ+ community who have decided to leave their homeland to escape discrimination and settle in Argentina

ABC News

A growing number of LGBTQ+ Russians seek refuge from war, discrimination in Argentina

A series of free classes are underway in the Tampa Bay region to teach members of the LGBTQ+ community self-defense skills. It comes as Florida implements new laws that target their rights, and as the Department of Homeland Security warns threats of violence have increased against the LGBTQ+ community nationally.

WLRN

Some LGBTQ Floridians are taking self-defense lessons amid a hostile political climate

The Department of Homeland Security issued a warning on Wednesday stating the U.S. LGBTQ community is currently facing an increased risk of extremist violence.

Chron

LGBTQ community facing increased threat from extremists, DHS warns

Minorities, immigrants and now members of the LGBTQ community are being warned of the risks of visiting Florida after the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group issued a travel advisory following newly passed laws and policies that may be harmful to people in those communities.

The nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group joins others in warning people about visiting Florida

US retailer Target is removing some items from its LGBTQ Pride Collection range after threats and confrontations in certain stores

BBC News

Target removes some LGBTQ products after threats

A special meeting of the Jerusalem City Council to mark the capital’s unification in 1967 devolved into a series of statements questioning the rights of LGBTQ people in the city, with a deputy mayor and council member suggesting that such people are mentally ill.

The Times of Israel

Jerusalem deputy mayor, council member panned for ‘vile’ rant against LGBTQ people

A Ugandan LGBT activist have said they will go ahead and return to their country next week despite the possibility of arrest by authorities in the country.

Heritage Times

Ugandan LGBTQ Activist Vows To Return Home Amidst Fear Of Arrest

Emergency meeting to address the targeting of LGBTQ+ events hears from extremism expert who says cancellations are exploited as victories by far right

The Guardian

Cancelling Victorian LGBTQ+ events in response to threats only rewards extremists

LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya are victims of severe hate crimes and abuses, including rape, says a report released Friday by Amnesty International and a Nairobi-based gay rights group. Perpetrators are able to "commit their crimes with almost total impunity, enabled by inaction on the part of the authorities", they added.

The New Indian Express

LGBTQ refugees suffer grave rights abuses in Kenya camp: Amnesty

Japan’s ruling bloc submitted to parliament on Thursday a bill aimed at promoting understanding of the LGBTQ community, a day before the country hosts the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, lawmakers said.

Japan Times

Japan ruling bloc submits bill on fostering LGBTQ understanding

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a slate of legislation Wednesday targeting the LGBTQ community, including restrictions on transgender health care, content on LGBTQ identities in schools, transgender bathroom use and drag performances in the state.

DeSantis signs bills affecting LGBTQ community

Since 2009, the European branch of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) has published the Rainbow Europe Map and Index, which examines 74 criteria to measure the legal and social acceptance of LGBTQ people.

LGBTQ rights in Europe: Malta leads, Poland lags

Diversity & Inclusion | LGBTQ+

The minority community in Muslim-majority Bangladesh fears that violence will increase against minorities ahead forthcoming polls in January due to non-fulfilment of poll promises by the ruling party.

UCA News

Bangladesh minorities fear violence upsurge ahead of polls

Researchers at the University of St Andrews found that people from Indian, Pakistani/Bangladeshi, and Black/African/Caribbean backgrounds tended to report worse health if they were exposed to higher levels of air pollution compared to white British people.

Evening Standard

Ethnic minorities are worst impacted by air pollution, study finds

People from minority ethnic backgrounds in one area were up to eight times more likely to be fined for breaking Covid rules in England and Wales, a study commissioned for Britain’s police chiefs found.

WION

Black people, ethnic minorities more likely to be fined for violating Covid curbs in England

A national body of Indian minorities has demanded the federal government guarantee them the constitutionally protected right to practice and profess their religion and protect them from hate speech, intimidation, attacks and killings.

Minority body demands India uphold constitution guarantees

Today, Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM), an NGO in special consultative status with ECOSOC of the United Nations, filed a public interest litigation (PIL) against government of Bangladesh alleging the countenance of state apparatus in the genocidal crime against minorities in Bangladesh.

EIN News

Genocidal Crime Against Minorities in Bangladesh: HRCBM files lawsuit against government of Bangladesh

A new U.S. congressional committee on China approved reports on Wednesday pushing back on Beijing over its treatment of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities and seeking to deter the initiation of a conflict with Taiwan, hoping some of its recommendations become law this year.

US House China panel recommends Congress take action over Taiwan, Uyghurs

Discriminatory laws and the unjust treatment of Iraq’s minorities have resulted in thousands of emigrations, school dropouts, and suicides.

Fanack

Iraq’s Minorities Among the Country’s Most Threatened Communities

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has issued a travel advisory for the state of Florida, calling the state “actively hostile” to minorities as Florida’s conservative government limits diversity efforts in schools.

NAACP says Florida is ‘actively hostile’ to minorities and issues travel warning

Diversity in education is an asset and has a great role to play for better cohesion, cultural diversity, inclusive societies, and economic benefit.  Yet, minorities are often at risk of having their human rights violated and can experience multiple forms of discrimination. 

UNESCO

New UNESCO paper maps out the status of the right to education of minorities

Canada must ensure that new trade deals with India prioritize human rights and the protection of the fundamental rights of all Indian citizens. Failure to do so would be a betrayal of our commitment to human rights, condemning religious minorities in India to genocide.

The Hill Times

Report unveils India’s use of Nazi playbook to target religious minorities

One of Guyana’s smallest Amerindian villages is waging a monumental battle that could decide the amount of control that thousands of indigenous people have over their land in remote parts of this South American country



Tiny Amerindian village in Guyana fights gold mine in key court battle over indigenous land rights

While voters ushered in the most diverse Congress in history, with nearly a quarter of House members identifying as a racial or ethnic minority, top staffers – including those who work for Minnesota lawmakers – fail to reflect the diversity in their districts.

Minn Post

Minnesota lawmakers struggle to hire people of color for top staff jobs

The United States wants India to condemn persistent religious violence, says a senior government official, a month before a state visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Al Jazeera

US asks India to check ‘continued targeted attacks’ on minorities

Technology alone won’t open opportunities to wider groups of people

Technology Alone Won’t Deliver Greater Management Diversity, But Provides The Needed Transparency

French MP Olivier Serva has urged his government to tackle discrimination against people with afro hair

The Conversation

French universalism sidelines ethnic minorities – why that must change

The minority community in Pakistan has been facing persecution and repression at the hands of state and non-state actors. Not only the Hindus, Christians and Sikhs but Shias and Ahamdiyyas also are facing continuous suppression.

The Print

Minorities facing persecution, repression in Pakistan

Minorities in Pakistan enjoy equal human rights to other citizens and “there is no misuse of the blasphemy laws against them,” Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, a religious cleric and the Pakistani prime minister’s special representative on interfaith harmony and the Middle East, told The Media Line.

The Jerusalem Post

Pakistan Rejects US Commission Report on Religious Freedom

The American Jewish Committee has paid tribute to King Mohammed VI for his protection of the rights of religious minorities in the North African Kingdom.


North Africa Post

American Jewish Committee hails Moroccan King’s protection of religious minorities

In India, experts argue that the party manifestos, although bear the inclusion of transgender or Gender Minorities, may not be a reliable indicator of the party’s inclusivity or commitment to the rights of the communities.

Outlook India

Are Promises On Poll Manifestos Enough For Ensuring Gender Minority Rights?

The UK’s non-Christian faiths and its Celtic languages will play a prominent role for the first time in a royal coronation when King Charles III is crowned next week, organisers said.

Khmer Times

Charles coronation debut role for minorities

Diversity & Inclusion | Minorities

It's hard for women to get into high-paying trades job

Canada: The Newfoundland and Labrador government needs to make women part of the green transition

The findings complement a growing body of research that highlights the important influence women can have in effective and efficient management of both natural resources and agricultural pursuits.

Premium Times

Women decision-makers can improve conservation and agriculture, study shows

Women’s empowerment is an undeniable, absolute necessity when it comes to fighting for food security, community development, poverty reduction, and social change

Morocco World News

Challenging the Feminization of Poverty Through Empowering Rural Women in Africa

Around the world, families are on the front lines of the struggle for gender equality —and can be “make or break” for women and girls when it comes to achieving their rights. They can be places of love and support, but too often are spaces where women’s and girls’ rights are violated and their voices stifled.

UN Women

Gender equality starts at home: Five ways to drive change within the family

The UN women presentative in Uganda, Paulina Chiwangu, has called on women in leadership to support and uplift the status of their fellow females

Daily Monitor

Female leaders urged to uplift fellow women

New Law Should Require Greater Inclusion of Pregnant Girls, Young Mothers



Human Rights Watch

Sierra Leone: Center Girls’ Voices in Education Reforms

Our society has long grappled with the sociocultural dilemma of whether or not women shall be encouraged to take charge of their lives, and actively participate on an equal footing with men

Business Recorder

Uplifting women & SMEs, empowering economies

A new campaign to tackle gender equality in the workplace has been launched by UN Women, it was announced on Thursday. In a collaboration between the UN Women UAE Liaison Office for the GCC and the General Women's Union, the new Women's Empowerment Principles drive aims to create a better environment for women working in the private sector.

The National News 

UN Women launches new gender-equality campaign

Over half of Gen Z workers would not accept a role in a company without diverse leadership


World Economic Forum

Why it pays to get women in the boardroom

In West and Central Africa, approximately 70 percent of women work in agriculture, according to a report from U.N. Women, but gaps still remain in their access to land, finance, technology, and markets. The international nonprofit CORAF is working to change this by offering women farmers trainings and additional resources.

Food Tank

From Marginalization to Empowerment: How Investing in Women Can Transform Sub-Saharan Africa

The UN Trade Forum 2023 will highlight how developing countries can use trade to tackle global challenges including protecting the ocean, reducing digital and gender inequalities, and building more resilient economies.


UNCTAD

Global forum spotlights actions to make trade more sustainable and inclusive

What if we could end world hunger, pack more nutrition in every meal, develop infant formula that mimics the composition of human breast milk, and even treat chronic diseases with food, without placing an undue burden on our environment?

These 10 Women Are Re-Imagining The Future Of Food With The Help Of Synthetic Biology

A lot of vibrancy is evident in the present entrepreneurial ecosystem, terms like women entrepreneurs, empowered womenfolk, women self-help groups are now in common parlance

Business World

Why Women As Entrepreneurs?

International development project enables Ugandan women to grow small businesses with energy-efficient electrical equipment – and fight climate change at the same time

LBL News Center

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in East Africa With Energy Efficiency

The space agency has been trying to improve diversity and inclusion for over a decade, according to a new inspector general report, but its workforce still lags the federal government in employment of women and minorities.


NASA struggles to improve workforce diversity

Bantako, a small Senegalese village, discovered gold in 2008. Many women travel from neighboring countries to work there, but often find themselves victims of sexual exploitation and gender-based violence.



Women risk health and safety to find gold in Senegal

The Institute of Women’s Studies (IWS), Lucknow University organised a programme on ‘women empowerment and career opportunities in gender studies’ at Avadh Girl’s Degree College on Monday. The programme aimed at creating awareness about the importance of women’s empowerment and the various opportunities available to students for their professional growth in the field of gender studies.

Hindustan Times

IWS holds awareness programme on women empowerment

Senegal: Female gold panners at risk

The $2.5m pilot project, implemented by CARE Sierra Leone and supported by The Rockefeller Foundation and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), targets more than 6,000 women in nine of Sierra Leone’s 16 districts, with the aim of helping them expand their livelihoods through use of renewable energy resources.

edie

Why initiatives need to combine women empowerment and climate justice

Studies have shown a gender gap in IP knowledge, with women being less aware and less likely to utilize IP protections than men. Several factors, including social, cultural, and economic barriers, contribute to this gap. Women often face biases and stereotypes that can discourage them from pursuing careers in STEM fields where IP is prevalent.

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